HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-01-10-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of Monday January 10.2000 meeting in the Conference Room, School
Administration Building, as approved May 24, 2000.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Kelley at about 7:05 p.m. with other PBC
members Himmel, Johnson, newly-appointed Bill Kennedy Pierce, Poinelli and Touart
present. Also attending were Project Manager/Owner's Representative Michael Melnick,
Director of School Building Operation John Moynihan and volunteer to the Library Building
Committee/Associate Board of Appeals member Sara Chase.
Library Status discussion began with note that the Historic Districts Commission now has a
new Chairman Joann Geschwendtner and Vice-Chairman Dan Fenn. Walter Pierce reviewed
the history of the project's year-long stoppage beginning in June 1998 due to abutters' suit
against the Board of Appeals ruling. The architect' revised contract has now been worked out,
signed and the architect paid up to date. Now the project is ready to go. Plans must be revised
according to settlement with the abutters' suit requiring the tower housing the air conditioner be
removed and landscaping planned jointly with abutters representative.
Next hurdle is the Historic District Commission. On July 9 1999, HDC representatives Lynn
Hopkins and Ian Adamson met informally with the library building committee and another
meeting is advisable as soon as possible with these HDC representatives and the architects.
The Saturday January 22 meeting is intended to include the architects' responses to the HDC
meeting if that can be scheduled with sufficient lead time.and ideas. Chairman Kelley
requested that members'bring their response to the Design Development plans available for
viewing at the Library to the January 22 morning meeting.
Fitting in with the DPW Director's unification of building controls idea? PBC members almost
unanimous response to the unification or standardization of controls was that trying to specify a
particular brand of controls (i.e. proprietary specifications) is about the worst item to have
proprietary due to invariable experience of triple costs. Kennedy suggested that unified
maintenance management systems would be more to the point. This sentiment of the PBC will
be relayed to the DPW/Engineering Department. (DPW is taking over Library maintenance).
Bidding for the schools nroiect schedule called for the high school's going out to bid on
January 14th. There may be addenda to the specifications and drawings because all issues have
not yet been settled. Drawings will be available for middle schools on February 2.
Risk insurance for existing buildings is the Town's responsibility and contractors will be
responsible for the additions, as well as for the deductible amount, which is $10,000 on the
town insurance. Melnick will look into the cost of smaller deductibles for this kind of
insurance.
Portable Classroom specifications have been written by Moynihan, who stated that it is legally
OK for the existing toilets in the schools to serve students using portable classrooms during
PBC Minutes of January 10, 2000 -page 2
construction. Therefore no toilets will be ordered. The portables will be leased, not purchased,
ten at the high school and four at Clarke. Melnick noted that there is a slight possibility that the
portables may not be in place on time.
Energy/lighting cost savings might be as much as $156,000 on lighting fixtures after they are
installed, according Gary Markowitz of Kilojolts. Melnick told of how he had to rush in
applications for the rebate program by December 31, 1999, in order to qualify VOTED to
authorize expenditure of$9700 (partially spent already) to complete the process of realizing
rebates after the after the installation rebate of qualifying lighting fixtures.
Another likely saving will come from elimination of sprinklers in gyms and the field house.
Beam smoke detectors will be substituted, since they would activate sooner in areas with high
ceilings. A written notification of the substitution must be sent the Fire Department.
Clarke Generator size will be reduced, but one either must be rented temporarily or otherwise
acquired(maybe from DPW who have a renovated school department generator)
Boston Gas service has been offered free to Diamond and the high school if the schools would
agree to purchase Boston Gas for 10 years. Moynihan will continue negotiation on this.
Clarke borings were a pleasant surprise. Less peat was found than feared.
Proiect Manager's weekly hours increase from 25 to 32 VOTED after copies of his log and
hours since July were distributed and examined. The motion called for a salary basis increase
beginning January 3, with inquiry to be made if it could be made retroactive for the past quarter
of 1999 Melnick also pointed out that a clerk-of-the-works should be hired for each project.
Inquiries will be made of Town Counsel on how these people could be hired.
Independent structural review is required to be ordered at this time by the owner. Poinelli
promised the names of people or firms providing this service.
Invoices APPROVED• as listed on Melnick's memo dated December 29 1999, with the
exception of all HMFH `reimbursable services," substituting only $15,840.00 for Clarke
electrical testing. The Kilojolts Consulting Group amounts were approved pending acceptance
of 12/31/99 application for rebate.
Other problems and solutions are a water problem on the front porch at Clarke, with possible
solution to move a wall or glass panels there to keep the water out. A shortage of classrooms
during the first year of high school construction will convert the library to needed space, and its
services will come from the cyber world.
Meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m. until Wednesday January 26, 2000 at 7 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Erna S. Greene, Secretary